I fly frequently and, hands in the air, admit I was guilty of feigning interest in the safety drill. After all, the plane isn't going to crash, is it? And if it does, we're all burnt crispy persons anyway.
Last December, however, I flew with my partner from Bristol - Ivalo on one of these "visit Lapland and see Father Christmas on a daytrip" excursions. We don't have kids, it was just going to be an experience.
As the only two adults without children on the flight, we were seated in the emergency exit seats............loads of legroom, bargain.
Then the cabin crew supervisor came upto us just before takeoff and said, in hushed tones, "if we run into problems, we WILL need your assistance in evacuating the aircraft".
I can assure you, I've never listened more intently, then or now, to the safety drill.......